The Shard launches as Western Europe’s tallest building

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Western Europe’s tallest building the Shard, London, was officially unveiled today (5 July) opening up event possibilities for European organisers.

When complete in 2013 the tower will consist of offices, winter gardens, international restaurants, retails spaces and a Shangri-La Hotel and Spa offering 195 rooms over 18,000sqm.

Shangri-La has yet to say the size of its meetings facilities planned for the hotel. In a statement the hotel said: “Event planners will have the luxury of choosing from an array of facilities and convenient London meeting venues at Shangri-La Hotel, at The Shard, London.”

The second floor will have retail units opening out onto the concourse of London Bridge Station. The 68th to 72nd floors will be the public observation galleries with a 1,400sqm View from the Shard opening in February 2013.

Standing at 309.6m high with 11,000 glass panels, the Shard is the tallest building in the UK but is the 59th tallest building in the world, the tallest being the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The London skyscraper has been designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano with 95 per cent of the construction materials said to be recycled. The skyscraper is joint-owned by the state of Qatar and the Sellar Property Group.